http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/myanmar-burma-to-adopt-metric-system/
Myanmar-Burma to adopt metric system
October 10, 2013
Myanmar is preparing to adopt the metric system or the International
System of Units (SI System) as the country.s official system of
measurement, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
One of the reasons is to streamline the weight measuring process in
exporting agricultural products such as rice, beans and maize for which
various measurement systems have been widely applied, according to Dr.
Pwint San, Deputy Minister for Commerce.
.In exporting rice and other agri-products, kilograms is the common
measurement unit, but Myanmar has used FPS (foot-pound-second) and CGS
(centimetre-gram-second) Systems in measuring goods. Therefore,
initiatives will need to be launched to replace them with the SI System,
and to achieve the widespread use of metric units among farmers, sellers
and the whole country at large,. said Dr. Pwint San.
The deputy minister discussed the subject in parliament after MP Aye Naing
of Sinbaowel Constituency asked for legislating on measurement units
according to international standards.
.Weight and other measurements as well as quality indices to be legislated
under the law for standards should lead to a position convenient for
international trading. Now there are opportunities for Myanmar to trade
with European countries and the United States, and so the standards used
in our country should match with those used in the others,. he added.
The deputy minister also pointed out the clumsiness of using different
measurement systems. Unnecessary costs and delays also occur when weights
have to be re-measured, and goods have to be re-packaged; especially when
trading with countries who do not accept certain measurements.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Technology has been tasked with
announcing the metric system as the official measurement system of
Myanmar.
